Monday, June 04, 2007

White people, I have to ask you not to read this post. If you must read it, please keep what you read to yourself. (What happens in the fields, stays in the fields)

I am afraid I am going to say somethings that might piss off allot of folks. I sure hate to put our (black folks) dirty laundry out there, but right about now I am sick of our so called black leaders and their trifling ass ways. And you know me, I can't bite my tongue; I just have to call it like I see it.

So let's talk about the latest elected black leader to let us down. William Jefferson was indicted today on 16 counts of obstruction of justice, money laundering, and racketeering. Homeboy is looking at over 230 years in prison if convicted of all the charges. By putting himself in this position he has embarrassed his race, his family, and the fine people of the state of Louisiana. For the record, I have never liked Jefferson. Like so many so called black leaders, I have always thought of him as a phony, and somewhat of a self promoting charlatan. A man who puts his own needs and selfish pursuits over those of the people that he was elected to serve. So I was not surprised when he was caught cold (no pun intended) with ninety thousand dollars in his refrigerator. I know you just can't trust banks these days. My question to the good folks of New Orleans would be this: Why did you re-elect this man? Wasn't his disgusting actions during the peak of the Katrina tragedy enough to make you realize how selfish he is? Included in these charges is an allegation that he bribed a Nigerian elected official no less. How sad is that?

But Jefferson isn't alone. There are a host of other black elected officials who have let us down over the years. I mean where do I start? Marion (the smoker) Berry; no explanation needed there. Bill Campbell, the former Mayor of Atlanta, who was indicted on bribery and racketeering charges, and was convicted on three counts of tax evasion. There is the head of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus, John Bowman, who was indicted for bank and credit card fraud. There is poor state senator Roscoe Dixon, from Tennessee, who did 63 months in a Louisiana jail for, you guessed it, birbery and fraud. Hey, how about Mel Reynolds from Illinois? My man was convicted and served time for criminal sexual assault and bank fraud. And it's not always the politicians. Our preachers are not immune from this type of dastardly behavior. Think of the good Reverend Henry J. Lyons, who while leading one of our largest church groups, was charged with defrauding corporations out of millions. What about our educators? Yes, them too. Remember Doloros Cross, the President of Morris Brown College, who allegedly used her school as her own personal piggy bank by defrauding that poor financially strapped college out of millions?

I could go on, but I will spare you. "But field white folks do it too, why are you focusing on the black leaders?" Because I don't care about what white people do. I care about us. We need to stop worrying about what white folks do, and stop trying to do every thing that they do. That's what many of these so call black leaders failed to realize. Their mission is not the same as their white colleagues or other white people in their perspective fields. They (Black leaders) have a higher calling, and they have a much more serious responsibility. The mission, that they chose to accept, is to do everything in their powers to uplift their race, and to act as true public servants. They have to realize that they are not in the positions they are in to line their pockets for themselves and their families.

So what do we do? Do we keep electing these disingenuous people to positions of power? Or do we start paying attention when they come around with their lies and promises? I would suggest that the reason many black folks are apathetic and turned off by the electoral process is because of the lack of real leadership on our behalf. We see the type of people who are supposed to be leading us, and we shrug and say; "what's the point of even voting, things won't change." Many of us think it's business as usual, and we are fed up. If you have been reading this blog, you will see how frustrated I have been with he CBC leadership of late. My frustrations stem from all the things that I mentioned above, as well as that organizations failure to reach out to grass roots organizations in our community. (So you want to team with FOX NOISE, wait until you see how they treat your fellow member-Mr. Jefferson now) But I guess reaching out is not an option if you are lining your pockets thanks to the status quo.

Things are tough enough out here for us as it is without having to put up with the sorry leadership that we have grown used to. But at the end of the day, we are responsible for putting them there, and ultimately we will have to hold them accountable or we will have to live with the consequences.

FN thank you, thank you, thank you for finally telling it like it is. The CBC, black mayors, black councilmen, and all other black politicians need to know that they are a representative of US!, and it is time for US to send some packing if they don't show and proove.

I don't know why these fools think they can play the same game that white folks do. If they sent Dan Rostenkowski to jail for some frickin' postage stamps, Jefferson's narrow brown behind should have known he couldn't get caught with 90K in cold cash in his FREEZER! Who does that?

I don't think I agree with you entirely, Field. While I would love politicians with sterling characters, I don't if it is reasonable to expect that. Nor do I think it is an essential characteristic for someone to server our interest. You mentioned Marion Berry. Well, he was no saint. But neither was Clinton--with his lying self--nor substance abusing Bush or Cheney, and they were wonderfully able to serve their constituents interest. I think rather than condemning Black politicians on cue when the white man indicts them we should support them regardless to show the white man that he just doesn't determine who serves us. If we want to kick the likes of Jefferson out, so be us--but I am tired of white prosecutors especially running through black strongholds indicting key black politicians for the clear pupose and with the clear effect of demoralizing us and giving too many of us more reasons to distrust ourselves.

Moreover, whatever might be said bad of Jefferson (even from his looks, I don't like him,) he was elected. Who is keeping other black people from running against him? As a personal pet peeve, I am tired of so many black folks criticizing the old line black leaders hen they don't seem to have the personal moxy and sense of sacrifice to put themselves out there and run. Run if you bad. Take it over, I say.

Finally, I don't know if I believe the charges. The man supposedly had $90K in the freezer but it took this long to indict--and he hasn't plead guilty. I know you're the x-prosecutor, Field, but it seems to be that is very close to being caught red handed (though I know the bribery and other charges turn on intent.) The feds--all prosecutor offices--are usually able to move with less evidence against blacks than they are against whites. So, I expect that everything is not what it seems. Moreover, we know the criminal justice system and its skew. I am not willing to genuflect to claims of an indictment.

I was also baffled as to why he was re-elected so convincingly.I think that was part of his problem (being in a safe district). After being re-elected so many times and knowing that you can almost run unopposed, I think a sense of invincibility sets in... which makes it even easier for corruption to take hold.

And, although others "do it too".... the stench does seem to be worse for Black officials who violate public trust. They represent more than just themselves when they mess up.

I was wondering when you were going to get to him! hahaha. But first, it's2007. We need to stop, STOP, doing the usual "Yeah, but look at that white politician/criminal/athlete/celebrity." Or, "Cynthia McKinney is a righteous sista and a great leader" (snicker). Look, grow the hell up. It's as certain as the sunrisethat they get treated differently. Fine. Get the f^%k over it. We can't address that crap unless and until we clean up or own backyards. Here in DC a crackhead ran her car into a church streetfestival (two witnesses said she lit up the pipe and laughed before gunning the engine again!). Yet a few folk alleged the cops cars chased her into the festival, somehw "causing" this disaster?! Some ofthe local kids who weren;t even there are repeating, and using it as an excuse to mess with the po-po. Now, thankfully the vast majority of witnesses, the festival organizers/church, dashboard cop cams show this was bull, but hey, we'd rather blame the cops? It's only the neighborhood activists and other folk who are doing it. The brothers and sisters who were actually there at the carnage dragged her ass out of the car and were about to stomp her to death as the cops were running in. The cops probably saved her worthless life.

Which brings me to Jefferson. We have to be cold-blooded about this. We can NOT afford clowns like that in charge. Period. And these fools who re-elected him need to be kicked in their bama heads. I wish I had more urbane, erudite, race/policy wog analysis to throw at you, but I am so pissed off right now, and the situation warrants only being blunt and brutal. And please don't get me started on these Africans who basically facilitated this scandal in the first place....

P.S. Field, for every one of us who agree with your there are 100 fools out on the pavement saying Jefferson was framed, blah blah. And I mean in Killadelphia...down in La. you know he's got all his constituents riled up. And yes, perhaps it's also time for we African American to open our damn eyes and force regime change in the Motherland. Too many nations kept in grinding poverty and disease, while the leaders and elites are literally ripping off these societies down to bare bones.

Last week I had a debate with a brilliant sister who insisted that these young brothas selling crack were stickin it to the man. I pointed out to here all of the negative things that the drug boys bring along with selling drugs, including violence, robberies and hundreds of thousands of young black mothers strung out on crack. Not to mention the single biggest reason for black men bieng in jail for over the last 20 years. Selling crack.

I have noticed that thier is a strong tendency on the part of way too many black folks to defend behavior by black folks that is draging the rest of black america down.

When will my people learn that we can stand strong against abuses by the system while at the very same time not tolerating retarded behavior by our leaders and ourselves.

To break it down even further we can have a total hatred for all white people (If thats how some of us choose to roll) without allowing black people who harm other black people use the race card to get out of whatever mess they are in.

It's tragic that some black people think if we reelect some brotha who is a criminal that we are asserting our independence. We are in fact sticking it to ourselves. Clarence Thomas had 60% of black folks against his nomination until the Senate hearings and he bleated something about a "high tech lynching." The nomination was in trouble but suddenly, 60& of black folks were in favor of him--presumably because white folks were picking on him. Man, if we don't stop worrying about white people, we will become extinct.

And blacks who sell drugs to blacks are race traitors in my book. In South Africa blacks "necklaced" traitors with burning tires around their necks. The least we can do here is make them pariahs instead of pop culture heroes.

What makes anyone believe that blacks can be morally superior to whites???

I think thats a set up- you become caught in an obession to regulate black behavior. In doing that you miss the opportunity to confront the true oppressors.

In this country Blacks cannot just seperate and focus on their own. Whites need to fundementally change. The entire system (controlled by whites) needs to change.

Until then I say good luck trying to get Blacks in line behaviorally... It'll only lead to frustration and disappointment.

Whites need to be directly challenged in this country. Their comfortable. They don't feel anything if a white politican is corrupt.

and lastly, Whites should feel comfortable because white supremacy is a real thing. Whites are superior that blacks. They have higher incomes, more wealth, better health, more education, etc...

If you want change you need to cut them down because their elevated status is artifical. Blacks will never compare unless they practice what Whites and the American government practiced throughout the history of this country.

A federal judge today sentenced I. Lewis Libby Jr., the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, for perjury and obstructing an inquiry into the leak of a C.I.A. operative’s identity.

Considering that Libby was at the center of one of the most outrageous criminal government conspiracies in American history (the Iraq War), I consider his offense to be somewhat more serious even than those of Jefferson.

Jefferson's real offense, and that of all corrupt politicians, is that he steals from Black people the opportunity we have for effective representation on urgent issues. That's why he has no business in the Congress.

"Equal protection of the laws" means that Blacks ought not be punished more harshly simply because we are Black and that makes it easier to get very, very angry at us.

Libby will be working at a top conservative job making millions of dollars by the time 2010 comes along. So, why should Jefferson spend life in jail?

You know what? Asians don't give a s**t about white people and they are doing just fine. Come to think of it, Latinos do well and spend nearly no time opining what white folks done did to them. This obsession we have with watching massa and making sure we do the same or the opposite or whatever it is we think we have to model after them is nuts.

Let's figure out what we need to do for us and the rest will take care of itself. Asians (not necessarity including Southeast Asians who have a higher percentage of poverty than Chinese) figured out that education and a strong work ethic are the key to everything.

Even my tacky and obnoxious Vietnamese neighbors (as opposed to other very nice Vietnamese families on the block) don't put much value on education but they and their kids all work like dogs, doing manual labor, and own their own businesses. They own property all over the place and live well.

Jeez, I'm ranting. If we're going to follow a model, let's follow one that is going to move us forward instead of modeling after white people, whose kids in upper middle class families are more messed up than kids growing up in the 'hood.

You can better believe that Jefferson's sentence (if convicted) will be at least double Libby's. (As black, he would have to be made an example.)

For this reason alone, we should be careful about giving Jefferson over to the gum'mint. That cannot be a Field Negro's response?

We shouldn't just blindly feed our own to a racist government. Can't we see how this is so similar to the African slave catcher's logic--blindly turning over our offenders to white handlers--but in this case for the reasons whites offer. The system is NOT substitute for us. (Do we believe the criminal justice system is biased or not? If so, seems to be we shuld be very careful about jumping up and down blinding celebrating its every pronouncement.)

Again, if we have bad politicians, vote them out. Run against them. Racism is a greedy ameoba. Feed it and you strengthen it. Period. See, Cynthina McKinney. If they malign, and we yap it up. All of us are vulnerable.

Fox News' Bigotry Exposed Again [VIDEO]Posted by Adam Howard on June 4, 2007 at 5:33 PM.

No one on the planet would have expected Fox News' coverage of Democratic congressman William Jefferson's indictment on corruption charges to be anything less than gleeful but it also turned out to be more than a little insidious. The video to your right, produced by The Talking Points Memo, shows how while the on air personalities drone on about Jefferson's indictment, footage of House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers is played. Now, probably Fox News would plead that was an honest techinical mistake on their part if they were ever challenged about it. But I think it is fair to assume the network wanted to not-so-subtly make Conyers and Jefferson seem linked and maybe for less than discerning viewers--appear to be the same person. For all the attention Fox News receives for being partisan politically, I don't think remotely enough attention has been paid to their consistent and shameless racist content.

PLEASE take a look at the clip. http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/#53124

It shows one on voter fraud where Fox also just features black voters.

The message I get is that it is okay for black people to engage in criminal behavior, even when it hurts us, because we must protect our criminals from massa. Theft doesn't become nontheft because someone black did the stealing.

I don't care what happens to Jefferson. The man is a Congressman and he acted like a common criminal. Let someone else protect his sorry butt. I believe black people who hurt other black people ought to be held up BY OUR COMMUNITY as examples of what we will not tolerate.

I am always amazed at the level of ignorance we will stoop to just to justify the behavior of criminals. The reason this man and others like him are able to perpetrate this "violence" in our communities is because we allow lawlessness in our communities. Yes, I used the term "violence" to describe his actions. It was violent in it's intent, if not in actual deed. This man chose to rob the people who counted on him to help them.

Example, how many of us see smokehounds wandering in our neighborhoods at all hours of the day and night? We know what they are up to, they don't have any money, so what are they going to do to get money. But we walk by them pretending that we don't know and they pretend like they ain't gonna steal. We have sexual predators that patrol our neighborhoods unaccosted. We have drug dealers dealing drugs publicly like the stuff was legal, we all see them.

The question we need to ask ourselves is not why do criminals commit crime, the question we need to ask is why do we tolerate lawlessness and crime. We will never elevate ourselves or our children until we stop accepting anything and everything from "black" people. Instead of sitting around and complaining about how bad crime is ( and Black people can do some complaining) start standing up for what's right. Until we are willing to do that, all this is just more talk until the next outrage. Look at the two "so-called" biggest civil rights leaders today. Both of them will show up for a buck anywhere and say anything.

By 1998, with Burkle's encouragement, Busch handpicked Yusef Jackson, then 28, to be the majority owner of a lucrative Budweiser distributorship on Chicago's North and Northwest Sides, making him one of the youngest such owners in the country.

Amid criticism that Rev. Jackson wields his power to leverage benefits for his friends and family, Jackson, who once engineered a lengthy nationwide boycott of Anheuser-Busch, insists he had no role in getting two of his sons, Yusef and Jonathan, the distributorship.

Bud's a Dud'

Their father's long, sometimes tangled history with Anheuser-Busch Inc. looms over his sons as they sell a product he once ridiculed.

In August 1982, Rev. Jackson began protesting that the company's hiring and contract policies excluded minorities. His rallying cry—"Bud's a Dud"—embarrassed the ultra-private Busch family.

While the effect of Jackson's boycott on beer sales was negligible, Anheuser-Busch pumped $10 million into a minority distributorship ownership program prompted by Jackson's efforts.

Eventually, company chief August Busch III—father of Busch IV— met privately with Jackson to discuss steps the company planned to take to increase the number of minority employees and contractors, according to Wayman Smith, Busch's former longtime vice president of corporate affairs.

In later years, Anheuser-Busch sent clear signs of allegiance to the Jacksons.

The beer company donated regularly to Jackson's organizations, including $10,000 for his Citizenship Education Fund in 1997 and sponsorship—at an undisclosed price—of the evening gala at his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition convention last summer. Anheuser-Busch gave $3,000 to U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s 2000 political campaign. In 1996, they made a $1,000 contribution to his campaign, two years before the company gave his brothers the chance to purchase the Chicago distributorship.

There is also one for Coke....

http://www.discoverthenetwork.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=687

False history gets made all day, any day,the truth of the new is never on the news - Adrienne Rich

mark bey: No you arent I cannot stand her and people who continue to excuse her antics an behavior are almost more than I can stand.

All's a black person gotta do is claim the man is out to get them and we will jump up and down to defend that person.

OJ is a prime example OJ could give a f#ck about black people. But yet black people defended that clown inspite of the fact that he was obviously guilty, obviously is a worm and obviously has no love for black people.

A part of me feels like OJ should be publicly flawed saw folks will understand what should happen clowns that use the black community when they need us and then continue tomming after we have helped him.

" A part of me feels like OJ should be publicly flogged saw folks will understand what should happen clowns that use the black community when they need us and then continue tomming after we have helped him."

What's wrong with Jackson's son getting the deal with Busch? Busch could have been a dud just for not having Blacks in key positions while making so much money off the black community. That's enough to protest Busch. And should Jesse Jackson have not allowed his own son (whom he probably can trust not to betray the community) to compete or just be the representative.

It is not unreasonable or corruption to pick out people whom you know to do work yu know they can do.

Why do we want to hate on each other?

Jesse Jackson, Sr. has not been shown to be a sell out. And he has reasons to want he and his family protected. We so easily hate on each other--and won't allow ourselves to be human. Activists don't get salaries. They have to make their way. They donm't have insurance policies. Their children don't necessarily have college funds. But we want to be jolly on the spot t respond to crises--and be spokesmen--as we sit back. I believe that Jackson and his kids starving could starve in the streets --and he would get barely more than a benefit from the community after a lifetime of meaningful stances. And God forbid, the media say something negative about him, we're off running. Field Negros, indeed! What is this about a $2K donation. That's no money. How is that necessarily corrupting.

BTW, Cynthia McKinney is not crazy. Who of us have not been pissed by white officers giving us the double over while allowing the white person the pass. And the higher you're promoted the worse it is. I have dressed down white security for asking me questions like I am common criminal before letting me in my office after hours after 20 years of workignthere when they don't do the same for white colleagues--and there has never been an incident of a black person breaking in or through. It is just the secuiryt feel that they can because you're just so unimportant. Now, some of you "field negros" may feel this kind of treatment is just what one gets and expects as a black person in a white world (and would be Cynthia McKinney-crazy to be outraged otherwise) but there are some others of us who believe in zero tolerance for racism--and believe in protsting such treatment.

you're in fact saying that you want discrimination ("The act of discriminating, distinguishing, or noting and marking differences.") between nationals in the same country to continue? Not work towards equality?

And . . . .What's wrong with Jackson's son getting the deal with Busch? Busch could have been a dud just for not having Blacks in key positions while making so much money off the black community. That's enough to protest Busch. And should Jesse Jackson have not allowed his own son (whom he probably can trust not to betray the community) to compete or just be the representative.

There is nothing wrong with people making a living,but when you ask people to make sacrifices and boycott and the only ones who benefit is you and your family, I'm sorry but I have a problem with that. Are we so starved for good leadership that we are willing to accept half-assed leadership?

Not only did one get a beer distributorship, but one also got a coke distributorship, what did you get from the boycotts?

Aside of the chatter, we expected this indictment. It is the latest in a serious of corruption cases we've been pushing to clean up Congress. How can we influence politicians with our persuasive arguments when they are already bought off. And, once bought off, they become bedfellows with the enemy for life, and allies of underworld gangsters. Throw the book at Jefferson and hurry up and get him out. We need an honest vote in his Louisiana seat.

Ravenravings, clowns like Jefferson lost the right to be protected by us when they decided to violate our trust.

And please believe me when I tell you, that I will point out racism whenever I see it no matter what form it takes. But at some point we have to say; enough! We just can't keep blaming "whitey" for everything.

I am sorry, I live in Killadelph, and our police chief is an incompetent political hack, who has allowed our murder rate to spiral out of control. Should I support him just because he is black? Hell no! Not when young black men are being slaughtered in our streets.

BTW, I have the utmost respect for our civil rights pioneers, and those who got their asses kicked during the civil rights struggle so that brothers like me can get on the Net and talk sh**. But that doesn't mean that I can't call them on their bull sh**.

"you're in fact saying that you want discrimination ("The act of discriminating, distinguishing, or noting and marking differences.") between nationals in the same country to continue? Not work towards equality?"

tsedek, let me answer that for you: Yes!

When the majortiy population start recognizing us as equals; get back to me and we will talk.

BTW, I am guessing you don't live in this country. And if you do, you must live real close to "Mr. Rogers". His neighborhood looks different than mine ;)

I've also been asked for ID when white folks weren't. I've had my run-ins with the cops too, one involving a formal complaint. But I've been black long enough to know what the consequences are for asserting "my rights" with police officers.

I am a black woman. Cynthia is not a strong black woman, she's a loose cannon. Strong women are women like Barbara Lee, Barbara Jordan, or Shirley Chisholm. Has no one told that child about choosing her battles? She's lucky they dropped the assault charges against her.

Too long. Two post in one. I won't post so long again. I know this is Field's site.

Forgiven & Eddie G.G.

Part I.

Forgiven,

Because you asked: I am not a beer drinker and haven't followed the Jackson-Busch matters as you have butI imagine the protests weren successful, producing the kind of results typical of successful protests--some of them immediate and concrete (like a distributing deal,) others more amorphous and distant (like a sense of empowerment, tested protest method, rapport, and intimidation of similarly-situated companies companies.) A list of other benefits I would imagine would include too, corporate awareness of a need to be mindful of their Black customers which might translate into more black employees, managers, models for their adverstizements, black vendors,including advertizement companies. I don't know if these happened. Do you know that they have not? Let's not let the joy of Jackson-bashing blind us to our interests. I know whenever my employer gets heat for a racial circumstance, my sense of empowerment about addressing racial matters is heightened and at least for some time, my positon made more secure. (Few want to fight on many fronts.) And given my position in the community, the community is better off by having a more secure activist. I would be a less effective speaker--and more vulnerable to co-option- worried if I could eat.

Also, I don't know which came first, the Coke or the Busch distributing contract for the youonger Jackson but certainly that Jackson's son got one makes him qualified (indeed, the obvious choice) for the other. (It also may have been Jackson's son independent application for a distributing license that alerted the senior Jackson to how completely Blacks have been closed out from these lucrative deals. So, we might actually want to thank Jackson for being in a position to shed light on this and creating another job oppty. for blacks. (Jack Jr. can't hold all the distributorships.) All hail--Yuself Jackson--Chicago's own little beer-selling modern-day gender bending Rosa Parks!-------------------Part II

Eddie G. G.

If no honest person ran against Jefferson while he was in office, why do you think there is a money-drenched or money-attracting politically-minded saint out there now to assume his seat? A person has to be Cynthia-McKinney crazy to assume an office for a people who would abandon you at the first accusation. It used to be that Congressman was one of the more lucrative jobs out there for even an educated black man. Now, the pay for the job lags the pay for some pastorships--and even some hair stylists. And if the people won't appreicate what you do, why do it?

I don't mind slamming Jefferson. Just if we do it, let's do it on his record. Were his politics not progressive? Did he fail his people? I ain't willing to assume his corruption in the face of the U.S. Attorney firings especially. All those were motivated either to undermine minority voting or insure politically-motivated prosecution decisions. Jefferson would fit both motivations--not to mention the attempt to undermine black voting power in New Orleans since Katrina and biases generally in the criminal justice system.

i definitely believe that we elect our black officials because we want to see someone who looks like us succeed in politics and respresent our race in the position in which they hold.

now.... this is a double edged sword b/c while we do this, we trust that they will uphold the reponsibilities that come with being an african american public official (yes, i said that) and being able to handle that world in white america.

with that - comes an unmeasurable amount of hypocrisy. they want to live the typical double life that a majority of black people face, but NOT under public scrutiny...

there is no excuse for breaking the law, but it's definitely hard to believe that you will get caught for white collar crimes when your white colleagues won't. real talk.

so - i'm not asking you to lift the burden off of them, but i am asking that we also take a look and try to find at least 5 black figures who have not been caught up in scandal? let's compare that with clinton's 1 (let's not forget that he pardoned his brother). we can even go there on bill cosby. it's a lose lose situation. i'm awaiting obama's scandal that has to be dug up from under a rug somewhere.

and for the record, the cbc has disturbed me so much, i can't even begin to express it. the ideals are there - but actualy implementation is not.

We simply have got to get past celebrating "Black Faces In High Places" and concentrate on their proven leadership abilities, and, as Field said, quit worrying about white people and what they do.

There's a different set of standards for them, and there's a set of standards for people of color. Black electecos are held to a higher standard than their white peers. Something that Jefferson conveniently forgot, and he should know better, coming from a state that still celebrates Jim Crowism every chance it gets.

So, I don't care about Jefferson, and so help me God, if the CBC tries to even think about playing the race card on this, I will do my best to elevate it to a level where none of them will be able to hide their heads on this.

Many of them took money from Jefferson, and I swear, in DC, all that $1000 (yea, a GRAND) buys is a steak dinner at The Palm or Ruth Chris Steak House. Like my sista Rikyrah said, them CBC members are cheap and easy to bribe.

They couldn't even go down at Duke Cunningham prices (over $2 million in bribes)

"YBP Guide is a forum of multiple perspectives and advice to support the many challenges that Young Black Professionals face. Our mission is to empower Young Black Professionals with the knowledge and inspiration to foster progression and productivity in the Black community.

YBP Guide was started by Kimberly Michelle and Fredric in October 2006. While they are the editors of the Young Black Professional Guide, many of their peers often contribute articles.

The concept of the blog came while vacationing in Miami. A conversation was eventually sparked about resources that enable young African-Americans in the web 2.0 space. While many books exist about relationships, technology, productivity, and self-empowerment, it is important to bridge these mediums into the web 2.0 world. "

Together, we can announce the mission and the purpose of the AfroSpear to Black people in need of hope from throughout the Diaspora.

@West Coast Story: You apparently don't know what really happened to McKinney otherwise you wouldn't have used the slave master's term describing her. A loose cannon is not McKinney. Whenever I hear Black people describe someone whose only crime is trying to help Black people, I want to scream. Every time I hear this it breaks my heart.

remorji said... FN thank you, thank you, thank you for finally telling it like it is. The CBC, black mayors, black councilmen, and all other black politicians need to know that they are a representative of US!, and it is time for US to send some packing if they don't show and proove.

9:45 PM

Villager said... field --> Amen.

Not much else need be said ... you have laid it out as it is.

We (Black folks) have to begin to respect ourselves and we need to have higher expectations that our leaders will respect us as well.

Fortunately, there are exceptions. Bro. Parren Mitchell who just passed away is an example of someone in leadership that handled himself correctly.

I wonder if Obama can be another positive beacon in the political arena?

In any case, 'dollar bill' needs to simply resign and slip away in the night. maybe he can go into rehab. That seemed to work for the congressman (Foley) last year that was fondling young pages.

peace,Villager

11:31 PM

Qusan said... I don't know why these fools think they can play the same game that white folks do. If they sent Dan Rostenkowski to jail for some frickin' postage stamps, Jefferson's narrow brown behind should have known he couldn't get caught with 90K in cold cash in his FREEZER! Who does that?

11:55 PM

Anonymous said... I don't think I agree with you entirely, Field. While I would love politicians with sterling characters, I don't if it is reasonable to expect that. Nor do I think it is an essential characteristic for someone to server our interest. You mentioned Marion Berry. Well, he was no saint. But neither was Clinton--with his lying self--nor substance abusing Bush or Cheney, and they were wonderfully able to serve their constituents interest. I think rather than condemning Black politicians on cue when the white man indicts them we should support them regardless to show the white man that he just doesn't determine who serves us. If we want to kick the likes of Jefferson out, so be us--but I am tired of white prosecutors especially running through black strongholds indicting key black politicians for the clear pupose and with the clear effect of demoralizing us and giving too many of us more reasons to distrust ourselves.

Moreover, whatever might be said bad of Jefferson (even from his looks, I don't like him,) he was elected. Who is keeping other black people from running against him? As a personal pet peeve, I am tired of so many black folks criticizing the old line black leaders hen they don't seem to have the personal moxy and sense of sacrifice to put themselves out there and run. Run if you bad. Take it over, I say.

Finally, I don't know if I believe the charges. The man supposedly had $90K in the freezer but it took this long to indict--and he hasn't plead guilty. I know you're the x-prosecutor, Field, but it seems to be that is very close to being caught red handed (though I know the bribery and other charges turn on intent.) The feds--all prosecutor offices--are usually able to move with less evidence against blacks than they are against whites. So, I expect that everything is not what it seems. Moreover, we know the criminal justice system and its skew. I am not willing to genuflect to claims of an indictment.

2. Now, in going after Dollar Bill, see if you can't catch the slander of John Conyers

http://www.prometheus6.org/node/16798

1:09 AM

Cynthia said... He deserves everything he gets...

1:18 AM

The Angry Independent said... I was also baffled as to why he was re-elected so convincingly.I think that was part of his problem (being in a safe district). After being re-elected so many times and knowing that you can almost run unopposed, I think a sense of invincibility sets in... which makes it even easier for corruption to take hold.

And, although others "do it too".... the stench does seem to be worse for Black officials who violate public trust. They represent more than just themselves when they mess up.

Another good post FN. The Field is always providing good brain food.

BTW... I have to disagree on Sammy. Sammy was cool :).

9:14 AM

Christopher Chambers said... I was wondering when you were going to get to him! hahaha. But first, it's2007. We need to stop, STOP, doing the usual "Yeah, but look at that white politician/criminal/athlete/celebrity." Or, "Cynthia McKinney is a righteous sista and a great leader" (snicker). Look, grow the hell up. It's as certain as the sunrisethat they get treated differently. Fine. Get the f^%k over it. We can't address that crap unless and until we clean up or own backyards. Here in DC a crackhead ran her car into a church streetfestival (two witnesses said she lit up the pipe and laughed before gunning the engine again!). Yet a few folk alleged the cops cars chased her into the festival, somehw "causing" this disaster?! Some ofthe local kids who weren;t even there are repeating, and using it as an excuse to mess with the po-po. Now, thankfully the vast majority of witnesses, the festival organizers/church, dashboard cop cams show this was bull, but hey, we'd rather blame the cops? It's only the neighborhood activists and other folk who are doing it. The brothers and sisters who were actually there at the carnage dragged her ass out of the car and were about to stomp her to death as the cops were running in. The cops probably saved her worthless life.

Which brings me to Jefferson. We have to be cold-blooded about this. We can NOT afford clowns like that in charge. Period. And these fools who re-elected him need to be kicked in their bama heads. I wish I had more urbane, erudite, race/policy wog analysis to throw at you, but I am so pissed off right now, and the situation warrants only being blunt and brutal. And please don't get me started on these Africans who basically facilitated this scandal in the first place....

9:24 AM

Christopher Chambers said... P.S. Field, for every one of us who agree with your there are 100 fools out on the pavement saying Jefferson was framed, blah blah. And I mean in Killadelphia...down in La. you know he's got all his constituents riled up. And yes, perhaps it's also time for we African American to open our damn eyes and force regime change in the Motherland. Too many nations kept in grinding poverty and disease, while the leaders and elites are literally ripping off these societies down to bare bones.

9:32 AM

Denise said... well said, Bro Chambers!

10:46 AM

mark said... " Which brings me to Jefferson. We have to be cold-blooded about this. We can NOT afford clowns like that in charge. Period. And these fools who re-elected him need to be kicked in their bama heads"

Last week I had a debate with a brilliant sister who insisted that these young brothas selling crack were stickin it to the man. I pointed out to here all of the negative things that the drug boys bring along with selling drugs, including violence, robberies and hundreds of thousands of young black mothers strung out on crack. Not to mention the single biggest reason for black men bieng in jail for over the last 20 years. Selling crack.

I have noticed that thier is a strong tendency on the part of way too many black folks to defend behavior by black folks that is draging the rest of black america down.

When will my people learn that we can stand strong against abuses by the system while at the very same time not tolerating retarded behavior by our leaders and ourselves.

To break it down even further we can have a total hatred for all white people (If thats how some of us choose to roll) without allowing black people who harm other black people use the race card to get out of whatever mess they are in.

Field great post thank you so much.

11:51 AM

west coast story said... Field and Mark hit the nail on the head once again.

It's tragic that some black people think if we reelect some brotha who is a criminal that we are asserting our independence. We are in fact sticking it to ourselves. Clarence Thomas had 60% of black folks against his nomination until the Senate hearings and he bleated something about a "high tech lynching." The nomination was in trouble but suddenly, 60& of black folks were in favor of him--presumably because white folks were picking on him. Man, if we don't stop worrying about white people, we will become extinct.

And blacks who sell drugs to blacks are race traitors in my book. In South Africa blacks "necklaced" traitors with burning tires around their necks. The least we can do here is make them pariahs instead of pop culture heroes.

12:33 PM

Anonymous said... What makes anyone believe that blacks can be morally superior to whites???

I think thats a set up- you become caught in an obession to regulate black behavior. In doing that you miss the opportunity to confront the true oppressors.

In this country Blacks cannot just seperate and focus on their own. Whites need to fundementally change. The entire system (controlled by whites) needs to change.

Until then I say good luck trying to get Blacks in line behaviorally... It'll only lead to frustration and disappointment.

Whites need to be directly challenged in this country. Their comfortable. They don't feel anything if a white politican is corrupt.

and lastly, Whites should feel comfortable because white supremacy is a real thing. Whites are superior that blacks. They have higher incomes, more wealth, better health, more education, etc...

If you want change you need to cut them down because their elevated status is artifical. Blacks will never compare unless they practice what Whites and the American government practiced throughout the history of this country.

A federal judge today sentenced I. Lewis Libby Jr., the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, for perjury and obstructing an inquiry into the leak of a C.I.A. operative’s identity.

Considering that Libby was at the center of one of the most outrageous criminal government conspiracies in American history (the Iraq War), I consider his offense to be somewhat more serious even than those of Jefferson.

Jefferson's real offense, and that of all corrupt politicians, is that he steals from Black people the opportunity we have for effective representation on urgent issues. That's why he has no business in the Congress.

"Equal protection of the laws" means that Blacks ought not be punished more harshly simply because we are Black and that makes it easier to get very, very angry at us.

Libby will be working at a top conservative job making millions of dollars by the time 2010 comes along. So, why should Jefferson spend life in jail?

1:34 PM

west coast story said... You know what? Asians don't give a s**t about white people and they are doing just fine. Come to think of it, Latinos do well and spend nearly no time opining what white folks done did to them. This obsession we have with watching massa and making sure we do the same or the opposite or whatever it is we think we have to model after them is nuts.

Let's figure out what we need to do for us and the rest will take care of itself. Asians (not necessarity including Southeast Asians who have a higher percentage of poverty than Chinese) figured out that education and a strong work ethic are the key to everything.

Even my tacky and obnoxious Vietnamese neighbors (as opposed to other very nice Vietnamese families on the block) don't put much value on education but they and their kids all work like dogs, doing manual labor, and own their own businesses. They own property all over the place and live well.

Jeez, I'm ranting. If we're going to follow a model, let's follow one that is going to move us forward instead of modeling after white people, whose kids in upper middle class families are more messed up than kids growing up in the 'hood.

2:21 PM

RavenRavings said... I agree with Anonymous just above.

Holland,

You can better believe that Jefferson's sentence (if convicted) will be at least double Libby's. (As black, he would have to be made an example.)

For this reason alone, we should be careful about giving Jefferson over to the gum'mint. That cannot be a Field Negro's response?

We shouldn't just blindly feed our own to a racist government. Can't we see how this is so similar to the African slave catcher's logic--blindly turning over our offenders to white handlers--but in this case for the reasons whites offer. The system is NOT substitute for us. (Do we believe the criminal justice system is biased or not? If so, seems to be we shuld be very careful about jumping up and down blinding celebrating its every pronouncement.)

Again, if we have bad politicians, vote them out. Run against them. Racism is a greedy ameoba. Feed it and you strengthen it. Period. See, Cynthina McKinney. If they malign, and we yap it up. All of us are vulnerable.

3:19 PM

RavenRavings said... Case in Point! The next place I surfed after posting had to tidbit:

Fox News' Bigotry Exposed Again [VIDEO]Posted by Adam Howard on June 4, 2007 at 5:33 PM.

No one on the planet would have expected Fox News' coverage of Democratic congressman William Jefferson's indictment on corruption charges to be anything less than gleeful but it also turned out to be more than a little insidious. The video to your right, produced by The Talking Points Memo, shows how while the on air personalities drone on about Jefferson's indictment, footage of House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers is played. Now, probably Fox News would plead that was an honest techinical mistake on their part if they were ever challenged about it. But I think it is fair to assume the network wanted to not-so-subtly make Conyers and Jefferson seem linked and maybe for less than discerning viewers--appear to be the same person. For all the attention Fox News receives for being partisan politically, I don't think remotely enough attention has been paid to their consistent and shameless racist content.

PLEASE take a look at the clip. http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/#53124

It shows one on voter fraud where Fox also just features black voters.

3:37 PM

west coast story said... Am I the only person who thinks Cynthia McKinney is nuts?

The message I get is that it is okay for black people to engage in criminal behavior, even when it hurts us, because we must protect our criminals from massa. Theft doesn't become nontheft because someone black did the stealing.

I don't care what happens to Jefferson. The man is a Congressman and he acted like a common criminal. Let someone else protect his sorry butt. I believe black people who hurt other black people ought to be held up BY OUR COMMUNITY as examples of what we will not tolerate.

No wonder we are still slaves.

3:46 PM

Forgiven said... It's Amazing!

I am always amazed at the level of ignorance we will stoop to just to justify the behavior of criminals. The reason this man and others like him are able to perpetrate this "violence" in our communities is because we allow lawlessness in our communities. Yes, I used the term "violence" to describe his actions. It was violent in it's intent, if not in actual deed. This man chose to rob the people who counted on him to help them.

Example, how many of us see smokehounds wandering in our neighborhoods at all hours of the day and night? We know what they are up to, they don't have any money, so what are they going to do to get money. But we walk by them pretending that we don't know and they pretend like they ain't gonna steal. We have sexual predators that patrol our neighborhoods unaccosted. We have drug dealers dealing drugs publicly like the stuff was legal, we all see them.

The question we need to ask ourselves is not why do criminals commit crime, the question we need to ask is why do we tolerate lawlessness and crime. We will never elevate ourselves or our children until we stop accepting anything and everything from "black" people. Instead of sitting around and complaining about how bad crime is ( and Black people can do some complaining) start standing up for what's right. Until we are willing to do that, all this is just more talk until the next outrage. Look at the two "so-called" biggest civil rights leaders today. Both of them will show up for a buck anywhere and say anything.

By 1998, with Burkle's encouragement, Busch handpicked Yusef Jackson, then 28, to be the majority owner of a lucrative Budweiser distributorship on Chicago's North and Northwest Sides, making him one of the youngest such owners in the country.

Amid criticism that Rev. Jackson wields his power to leverage benefits for his friends and family, Jackson, who once engineered a lengthy nationwide boycott of Anheuser-Busch, insists he had no role in getting two of his sons, Yusef and Jonathan, the distributorship.

Bud's a Dud'

Their father's long, sometimes tangled history with Anheuser-Busch Inc. looms over his sons as they sell a product he once ridiculed.

In August 1982, Rev. Jackson began protesting that the company's hiring and contract policies excluded minorities. His rallying cry—"Bud's a Dud"—embarrassed the ultra-private Busch family.

While the effect of Jackson's boycott on beer sales was negligible, Anheuser-Busch pumped $10 million into a minority distributorship ownership program prompted by Jackson's efforts.

Eventually, company chief August Busch III—father of Busch IV— met privately with Jackson to discuss steps the company planned to take to increase the number of minority employees and contractors, according to Wayman Smith, Busch's former longtime vice president of corporate affairs.

In later years, Anheuser-Busch sent clear signs of allegiance to the Jacksons.

The beer company donated regularly to Jackson's organizations, including $10,000 for his Citizenship Education Fund in 1997 and sponsorship—at an undisclosed price—of the evening gala at his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition convention last summer. Anheuser-Busch gave $3,000 to U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s 2000 political campaign. In 1996, they made a $1,000 contribution to his campaign, two years before the company gave his brothers the chance to purchase the Chicago distributorship.

There is also one for Coke....

http://www.discoverthenetwork.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=687

False history gets made all day, any day,the truth of the new is never on the news - Adrienne Rich

The Disputed Truth

4:08 PM

Not Your Mama said... Sorry, had to read it. Ok, I won't tell anyone else since you asked but I can't imagine why you'd not be proud of what you wrote here.

Because I don't care about what white people do. I care about us

That's a winning strategy.

4:25 PM

mark said... "Am I the only person who thinks Cynthia McKinney is nuts? "

mark bey: No you arent I cannot stand her and people who continue to excuse her antics an behavior are almost more than I can stand.

All's a black person gotta do is claim the man is out to get them and we will jump up and down to defend that person.

OJ is a prime example OJ could give a f#ck about black people. But yet black people defended that clown inspite of the fact that he was obviously guilty, obviously is a worm and obviously has no love for black people.

A part of me feels like OJ should be publicly flawed saw folks will understand what should happen clowns that use the black community when they need us and then continue tomming after we have helped him.

4:35 PM

mark said... I meant to say

" A part of me feels like OJ should be publicly flogged saw folks will understand what should happen clowns that use the black community when they need us and then continue tomming after we have helped him."

4:36 PM

RavenRavings said... Forgiven,

And . . . .

What's wrong with Jackson's son getting the deal with Busch? Busch could have been a dud just for not having Blacks in key positions while making so much money off the black community. That's enough to protest Busch. And should Jesse Jackson have not allowed his own son (whom he probably can trust not to betray the community) to compete or just be the representative.

It is not unreasonable or corruption to pick out people whom you know to do work yu know they can do.

Why do we want to hate on each other?

Jesse Jackson, Sr. has not been shown to be a sell out. And he has reasons to want he and his family protected. We so easily hate on each other--and won't allow ourselves to be human. Activists don't get salaries. They have to make their way. They donm't have insurance policies. Their children don't necessarily have college funds. But we want to be jolly on the spot t respond to crises--and be spokesmen--as we sit back. I believe that Jackson and his kids starving could starve in the streets --and he would get barely more than a benefit from the community after a lifetime of meaningful stances. And God forbid, the media say something negative about him, we're off running. Field Negros, indeed! What is this about a $2K donation. That's no money. How is that necessarily corrupting.

BTW, Cynthia McKinney is not crazy. Who of us have not been pissed by white officers giving us the double over while allowing the white person the pass. And the higher you're promoted the worse it is. I have dressed down white security for asking me questions like I am common criminal before letting me in my office after hours after 20 years of workignthere when they don't do the same for white colleagues--and there has never been an incident of a black person breaking in or through. It is just the secuiryt feel that they can because you're just so unimportant. Now, some of you "field negros" may feel this kind of treatment is just what one gets and expects as a black person in a white world (and would be Cynthia McKinney-crazy to be outraged otherwise) but there are some others of us who believe in zero tolerance for racism--and believe in protsting such treatment.

4:37 PM

E. K.(Kitty) Glendower said... I reserve the right for no one to label me, so I cannot adhere to the read or not read request according to a label. Sorry.

I just want to say Cynthia McKinney is NOT crazy. Sometimes folks got to go off.

5:17 PM

Tsedek said... to uplift their race

you're in fact saying that you want discrimination ("The act of discriminating, distinguishing, or noting and marking differences.") between nationals in the same country to continue? Not work towards equality?

Just curious....

5:28 PM

Cynthia said... I also believe Cynthia McKinney is a victim of a racist society who doesn't like strong Black people, particularly women.

5:32 PM

Forgiven said... And . . . .What's wrong with Jackson's son getting the deal with Busch? Busch could have been a dud just for not having Blacks in key positions while making so much money off the black community. That's enough to protest Busch. And should Jesse Jackson have not allowed his own son (whom he probably can trust not to betray the community) to compete or just be the representative.

There is nothing wrong with people making a living,but when you ask people to make sacrifices and boycott and the only ones who benefit is you and your family, I'm sorry but I have a problem with that. Are we so starved for good leadership that we are willing to accept half-assed leadership?

Not only did one get a beer distributorship, but one also got a coke distributorship, what did you get from the boycotts?

5:42 PM

Eddie G. Griffin said... Aside of the chatter, we expected this indictment. It is the latest in a serious of corruption cases we've been pushing to clean up Congress. How can we influence politicians with our persuasive arguments when they are already bought off. And, once bought off, they become bedfellows with the enemy for life, and allies of underworld gangsters. Throw the book at Jefferson and hurry up and get him out. We need an honest vote in his Louisiana seat.

5:45 PM

Comment deleted This post has been removed by the author.

6:12 PM

field negro said... Ravenravings, clowns like Jefferson lost the right to be protected by us when they decided to violate our trust.

And please believe me when I tell you, that I will point out racism whenever I see it no matter what form it takes. But at some point we have to say; enough! We just can't keep blaming "whitey" for everything.

I am sorry, I live in Killadelph, and our police chief is an incompetent political hack, who has allowed our murder rate to spiral out of control. Should I support him just because he is black? Hell no! Not when young black men are being slaughtered in our streets.

BTW, I have the utmost respect for our civil rights pioneers, and those who got their asses kicked during the civil rights struggle so that brothers like me can get on the Net and talk sh**. But that doesn't mean that I can't call them on their bull sh**.

"you're in fact saying that you want discrimination ("The act of discriminating, distinguishing, or noting and marking differences.") between nationals in the same country to continue? Not work towards equality?"

tsedek, let me answer that for you: Yes!

When the majortiy population start recognizing us as equals; get back to me and we will talk.

BTW, I am guessing you don't live in this country. And if you do, you must live real close to "Mr. Rogers". His neighborhood looks different than mine ;)

6:17 PM

west coast story said... I've also been asked for ID when white folks weren't. I've had my run-ins with the cops too, one involving a formal complaint. But I've been black long enough to know what the consequences are for asserting "my rights" with police officers.

I am a black woman. Cynthia is not a strong black woman, she's a loose cannon. Strong women are women like Barbara Lee, Barbara Jordan, or Shirley Chisholm. Has no one told that child about choosing her battles? She's lucky they dropped the assault charges against her.

6:42 PM

RavenRavings said... Too long. Two post in one. I won't post so long again. I know this is Field's site.

Forgiven & Eddie G.G.

Part I.

Forgiven,

Because you asked: I am not a beer drinker and haven't followed the Jackson-Busch matters as you have butI imagine the protests weren successful, producing the kind of results typical of successful protests--some of them immediate and concrete (like a distributing deal,) others more amorphous and distant (like a sense of empowerment, tested protest method, rapport, and intimidation of similarly-situated companies companies.) A list of other benefits I would imagine would include too, corporate awareness of a need to be mindful of their Black customers which might translate into more black employees, managers, models for their adverstizements, black vendors,including advertizement companies. I don't know if these happened. Do you know that they have not? Let's not let the joy of Jackson-bashing blind us to our interests. I know whenever my employer gets heat for a racial circumstance, my sense of empowerment about addressing racial matters is heightened and at least for some time, my positon made more secure. (Few want to fight on many fronts.) And given my position in the community, the community is better off by having a more secure activist. I would be a less effective speaker--and more vulnerable to co-option- worried if I could eat.

Also, I don't know which came first, the Coke or the Busch distributing contract for the youonger Jackson but certainly that Jackson's son got one makes him qualified (indeed, the obvious choice) for the other. (It also may have been Jackson's son independent application for a distributing license that alerted the senior Jackson to how completely Blacks have been closed out from these lucrative deals. So, we might actually want to thank Jackson for being in a position to shed light on this and creating another job oppty. for blacks. (Jack Jr. can't hold all the distributorships.) All hail--Yuself Jackson--Chicago's own little beer-selling modern-day gender bending Rosa Parks!-------------------Part II

Eddie G. G.

If no honest person ran against Jefferson while he was in office, why do you think there is a money-drenched or money-attracting politically-minded saint out there now to assume his seat? A person has to be Cynthia-McKinney crazy to assume an office for a people who would abandon you at the first accusation. It used to be that Congressman was one of the more lucrative jobs out there for even an educated black man. Now, the pay for the job lags the pay for some pastorships--and even some hair stylists. And if the people won't appreicate what you do, why do it?

I don't mind slamming Jefferson. Just if we do it, let's do it on his record. Were his politics not progressive? Did he fail his people? I ain't willing to assume his corruption in the face of the U.S. Attorney firings especially. All those were motivated either to undermine minority voting or insure politically-motivated prosecution decisions. Jefferson would fit both motivations--not to mention the attempt to undermine black voting power in New Orleans since Katrina and biases generally in the criminal justice system.

7:07 PM

dcsavvystar said... i definitely believe that we elect our black officials because we want to see someone who looks like us succeed in politics and respresent our race in the position in which they hold.

now.... this is a double edged sword b/c while we do this, we trust that they will uphold the reponsibilities that come with being an african american public official (yes, i said that) and being able to handle that world in white america.

with that - comes an unmeasurable amount of hypocrisy. they want to live the typical double life that a majority of black people face, but NOT under public scrutiny...

there is no excuse for breaking the law, but it's definitely hard to believe that you will get caught for white collar crimes when your white colleagues won't. real talk.

so - i'm not asking you to lift the burden off of them, but i am asking that we also take a look and try to find at least 5 black figures who have not been caught up in scandal? let's compare that with clinton's 1 (let's not forget that he pardoned his brother). we can even go there on bill cosby. it's a lose lose situation. i'm awaiting obama's scandal that has to be dug up from under a rug somewhere.

and for the record, the cbc has disturbed me so much, i can't even begin to express it. the ideals are there - but actualy implementation is not.

8:33 PM

rikyrah said... About Jefferson - the 2 dudes they have that flipped on him got EIGHT YEARS..

They FLIPPED and got 8 years....

So, I think things don't look good for Dollar Bill.

9:34 PM

rikyrah said... FN,

Watching CNN right now,...and there's your girlfriend, Amy....LOL

9:38 PM

The Christian Progressive Liberal said... We simply have got to get past celebrating "Black Faces In High Places" and concentrate on their proven leadership abilities, and, as Field said, quit worrying about white people and what they do.

There's a different set of standards for them, and there's a set of standards for people of color. Black electecos are held to a higher standard than their white peers. Something that Jefferson conveniently forgot, and he should know better, coming from a state that still celebrates Jim Crowism every chance it gets.

So, I don't care about Jefferson, and so help me God, if the CBC tries to even think about playing the race card on this, I will do my best to elevate it to a level where none of them will be able to hide their heads on this.

Many of them took money from Jefferson, and I swear, in DC, all that $1000 (yea, a GRAND) buys is a steak dinner at The Palm or Ruth Chris Steak House. Like my sista Rikyrah said, them CBC members are cheap and easy to bribe.

They couldn't even go down at Duke Cunningham prices (over $2 million in bribes)

10:15 PM

Francis L. Holland Blog said... Please help me to welcome the Young Black Professionals Guide (YBP) to the AfroSpear!

"YBP Guide is a forum of multiple perspectives and advice to support the many challenges that Young Black Professionals face. Our mission is to empower Young Black Professionals with the knowledge and inspiration to foster progression and productivity in the Black community.

YBP Guide was started by Kimberly Michelle and Fredric in October 2006. While they are the editors of the Young Black Professional Guide, many of their peers often contribute articles.

The concept of the blog came while vacationing in Miami. A conversation was eventually sparked about resources that enable young African-Americans in the web 2.0 space. While many books exist about relationships, technology, productivity, and self-empowerment, it is important to bridge these mediums into the web 2.0 world. "

Together, we can announce the mission and the purpose of the AfroSpear to Black people in need of hope from throughout the Diaspora.

One Love! One Nation Under an AfroSpear!

11:08 PM

Kamau Atem said... Not to pile on, but Dollar Bill bout to go down so far Obama might be President when he comes up....(what happens in the field stays in the field---Field you is off da chain. Off da chain!!!)

11:21 PM

Cynthia said... @West Coast Story: You apparently don't know what really happened to McKinney otherwise you wouldn't have used the slave master's term describing her. A loose cannon is not McKinney. Whenever I hear Black people describe someone in this manner whose only crime is trying to help Black people, I want to scream. Every time I hear this it breaks my heart. I swear many of us are out of our African minds.

How can one say "I don't care about what white people think" but then condemn Jefferson based on an indictment? That's caring about what white people think.

I just saw the Republican debate. All candidates thought Scooter Libby should be pardoned. X-Mayor Guiliani was the most outraged by the Libby conviction/sentence. He implied that the 2-year sentence would be denying Libby "his life." Remember Guiliani is the NYC mayor who targetted Black folk for minor, so-called quality-of-life offenses--jaywalking, spitting, etc.--with regular consequences of longer than 2 year sentences.

What a contrast Field's post is to the Republican discussion about their CONVICTED politico! We r willing 2 just lock up and leave our politicos at the point of accusation. No conviction needed. (We really do hate ourselves.)

As a white x-chief judge of a state supreme court confided to me, the reason so much of the black community is incarcerated is because we allow it. We white people, the x-chief siad, are just not going to allow our kids locked up wholesale.

Field, I know you got million comments up here, but I just posted the actually indictment on my blog and folks need to look at this. This last Anonymous must have been one of the fools down there in La. who voted this man.

There, I said it. What do you have left when people use hackneyed and stupid terms like "sef-hatred" when it clearly doesn't apply, but grab them and smack them in the hopes they wise-up?

What a contrast Field's post is to the Republican discussion about their CONVICTED politico! We r willing 2 just lock up and leave our politicos at the point of accusation. No conviction needed. (We really do hate ourselves.)

As a white x-chief judge of a state supreme court confided to me, the reason so much of the black community is incarcerated is because we allow it. We white people, the x-chief siad, are just not going to allow our kids locked up wholesale.

We have a question of value.

One thing I know is that when the feds come after a Black politician they make sure they have the person dead to right. By the time it becomes an indictment they have got him on tape or multiple witnesses willing to testify.

There had been rumors for years concerning Marion Berry's crack smoking, but the feds didn't move against him until they had him on tape. If you remember he said no multiple times, but they wanted him on tape and they got him.

This isn't about following the white man, this is about truth and honesty. Why should it matter if every white politician stole money from white people, should we not expect our people to be right? I don't get it, why have we gotten to this place where we are willing to accept sin in our lives without batting an eye. We accept it from our friends, our husbands, wives, children, and ourselves. There will be no redemption for us until we quit comparing everything we do to the white man and set up our own standards of conduct and hold everyone to them.

Self-hate is to continue to allow sin (or wrongs) to continue to be perpetrated on our community and make excuses for it. If I do something wrong once it is a mistake, if I do it 3 or more times, it isn't a mistake it is a lifestyle...

I'm sorry, you're just wrong. See the Wikipedia entry about the trial of African American former head of Department of Agriculture Mike Espy,

"On August 27, 1997, Espy was indicted on charges of granting favors in exchange for thousands of dollars in gifts such as sports tickets, lodging, and airfare. Espy refused to plea bargain and on December 2, 1998 he was acquitted of all 30 criminal charges in the trial. Independent Counsel Donald Smaltz presented more than 70 witnesses in the trial and spent more than $20 million preparing and trying the case. [1]

The defense rested without calling witnesses, stating simply that the prosecution had not proved its case. The jury deliberated less than 10 hours before finding Espy innocent of all charges. One of the jurors stated "This was the weakest, most bogus thing I ever saw. I can't believe Mr. Smaltz ever brought this to trial." At least four other jurors echoed this view, though with softer words." ---------------------I also persnally know of others who were charged and not convicted on very flimsy evidence---often involving claims of a vulnerable immigrant.

It is not that people should be punished or held accountable. Criminal prosecution is just not the ony way to hold people accountable. It is just the way black people must be held accountable----legal slavery. (See, the 13th Amendment. Slavery still legal in prison.)

you didn't finish reading the article...you have 2 corporations found guilty of giving illegal contributions to the man and you claim he was falsely accused?

This is exactly my point Mike Espy was on the take when he was in Mississippi, but again in this protect our race at all costs we refuse to see the truth.

NEWSFLASH - We will never get anywhere until we stop blaming the white "bogeyman" and start getting ourselves together. There is racism in America, get over it! You are not going to change what other people think about you! Instead we need to change how we think and feel about ourselves. As long as we allow others to define who and what we are, we are doomed...

This is like saying why are they arresting all the young Black men for selling crack and not the white boys? If you weren't selling crack, duh! But we want to continue to compare our situation with the whites...We can not be confused by how things should be, with how they are...

I wish I could be more polite but you are just flat out wrong again. Different what you represent, self-flaggellation is not necessary for our success.

The examples of the "successful" peoples around us don't seem to involve self-flaggellation. Just the opposite. A key ingredient seems to be--just what you oppose--blaming others for problems --and blind self promotion. Some form of "we're not flawed, they are" is part of every revolutionary rallying cry or sustained developments.

No group has uplifted themseves by crying, "we're inadequate. Let's move ahead." So, with due respect, I find that your argument lacks reason and support of history.

Moreover, as this progressive site even indicates, there is never a shortage of people to declare our failings--even in the face of great proof to the contrary. (See,e.g., your dogged insistence of choir boy Espy's guilt even in the face of all accounts of his most apparent to all innocence.)

Finding someone not guilty of a crime does not mean they didn't do it. It means the defense presented a better case than the prosecution and that happens for various reasons. I don't know anything about the Espy case so I have no comment on it.

I've been lucky to be represented by black elected officials who have been above corruption.

I'll be glad when black people get over whatever hair up their butt they have about Obama. He's one of the few presidential candidates with any serious discussion about urban issues and black folks can't dog him enough. He's worked in the trenches and he still gets dogged. I don't get it. His record on national and foreign affairs is thin and that is a legitimate shortcoming for him. But all the other stuff I hear from black folks seems to be about him not being the descendant of slaves and having white people in his family. Seriously, this is like high school.

As you no doubt know, guilt in law is largely a function of intent. That a corporation may have intended to bribe does not mean that a person who may have received intended bribe intended to receive a bribe. If the person receiving the offered whatever, for example, recieved the bribe as mere contribution--or not with the intent of it being the basis of a quid pro quo--there is no bribery. So, one can intend a bribe and another not be bribed. Forgiven, it is important you read the account of legal outcomes with this in mind.

So, one can intend a bribe and another not be bribed. Forgiven, it is important you read the account of legal outcomes with this in mind.

And the tooth fairy will be by to see you tonight...its time to grow up and stop burying our heads in the sand. These are politicians, not choir boys...

No group has uplifted themseves by crying, "we're inadequate. Let's move ahead." So, with due respect, I find that your argument lacks reason and support of history.

No group has ever been uplifted by pretending they have no flaws and not trying to improve when they recognize them. I never said that we are inadequate, what I said was that there are areas we need to improve on and that we need to stop defining ourselves by the definitions of others. Because some group calls me a n****r that makes me one and I accept that definition, so I start referring to myself as such. But of course I mean it in love...

NEWSFLASH - We will never get anywhere until we stop blaming the white "bogeyman" and start getting ourselves together. There is racism in America, get over it! You are not going to change what other people think about you! Instead we need to change how we think and feel about ourselves. As long as we allow others to define who and what we are, we are doomed...

I have to agree with this.

While I'll always be Black in America..

What's driving me loopy these days is what Black folks are unwilling to do for themselves. I'm not talking about heroic measures, where we have to become 'Superbeings'...there's just stuff we aren't doing...basic stuff,....that if we took care of...as a community, we'd be better off.

Excerpt: "Whites have invented subtle ways to convince themselves that race isn't a problem in America." Blacks do see more racism in society than whites but, contrary to stereotype, seem disinclined to blame the system for their disadvantage. In fact, they are more likely to attribute it to individual causes like a lack of hard work--77% did so, compared with 62% of whites. "We think of U.S. minorities as less engaged in American individualism," Hartmann says, "but they are maybe more so."

--------------------------

That is, it is just tired cliche to accuse blacks of not accepting blame or responsibility--not new, independent thinking. (One of the reasons blacks never got their forty acres and a mule is because some blacks (parroting white cliches) insisted that blacks refuse them because it would reduce them and they should "man up" and get it on their own.) And it aint true. My black politicians weren't corrupt. West Coast's black politicians werent' corrupt but somehow all black leadership stands indicted.

Field Negros? I can get this from the Klan: generalized the bad of blacks, and discretly attribute the good.

About Obama,

Obama is not entitled to black support--anymore than a Sharpton or a Jesse is. Why we have to be "high school" if we support him or identify him. That's our right. We can ignore his "urban agenda" or disagree with it. Moreover, you seem to assume so much because I guess you presume he is black. Well, that's good for you. Other people can define blackness the way they want. It doesn't mean their immature--just like a conservative or progressive can identify their politicians by an issue or multiple issues as they see fit.

ravenravings: I barely know where to start. Perhaps start with what I said. There are areas in Obama's background that are thin such as national and international involvement. So let's stick to his record and examine what he has or has not done and where his experience is thin.

But you go a step further and say:

"Moreover, you seem to assume so much because I guess you presume he is black. Well, that's good for you. Other people can define blackness the way they want."

Isn't that a tad presumptuous? I know I don't need anyone to define who I am for me and I would assume you don't either.

On the one hand, we should cover for politicians like Jefferson when they mess up. On the other hand, you aren't even willing to give recognition for the good Obama has done for blacks in Chicago, who by the way, seem to hold him in high regard. Because you don't think he's black enough, or something. This is so old timey, like someone deciding that a fair skinned person isn't black enough. Or a dark skinned person can't ever be sophisticated enough. And all that other horse pucky. Jeez, Louise. When are we going to grow up as a people?

I'm not suggesting anyone vote for Obama or not. I don't know yet that I will. But I'm darn sure not going to vote against him because he's not black enough, whatever that means. That is high school.

With much respect, West Coast. I do not mean to offend. I respet your point of view. A few additional points in response to your post--if I may.

As an initial aside, there is such a characteristic as "not black enough"--whether you define it by ideology, experience, accuturation. It is no doubt subjective--like beauty--but it exists.

Two, I certainly am not oppose to people supporting Obama--as a black man. I just oppose those who assume that those who don't support Obama are simple-minded, irrational, or necessarily making comment on the authenticity of Obama's racial claims. Thus, I oppose you calling black non-pro Obama people names--"high school." I know what you mean by high school (although in my high school and in my experience, biracial people were always fully embraced as blacks. E.g., see Obama in Chicago.) So, I am just wondering why you think black folks are thinking "high school" if they aren't pro-Obama? Why isn't it that black people just aren't convinced by Obama's policies or platform--or reject him because he's not as experienced---or as tested as other (black) candidates. (He has been relatively quiet until just recently.) Non-racial rationale is supposedly the basis of your hesitation. Why can't it be for other blacks? Why are you so deep but other black people simple and stupid? How did you come to this conclusion about the rest of black folks? I see a pattern. You believe Jefferson is bad but, somehow, from your distance you are willing to presume that Obama is the second coming? Why? You don't know Obama, Jefferson, or all black people. So, are you just regurgitating the media's pre-quiet-riot press about Obama--and in a knee jerk way believing the negative bull that comes out about the other black people. (I believe we always need to check ourselves about this.)

BTW, all of the black Chicagoans I've talked to who don't know either Obama or his wife personally are hesitant about him--and are taking a wait and see approach.

raven: you are not getting my point. I am only saying that people should judge Obama by his record. Judging him because he is not "black enough" is not valid in my book. Judging him because he is "inauthentic" is high school because the whole notion of it is subjective and arbitrary. That is immature to me. I'm not gung-ho anybody. The election is almost 1.5 years away. I have no idea who I will vote for. Prejudging someone based on your undefined criteria for inauthenticity doesn't make sense to me. I hadn't heard that black Chicoans weren't not supporting him. News to me. I'll be googling that one.

Jefferson had cash stashed in his freezer after being accused of taking bribes. It doesn't look good for him but maybe there's a valid reason he freezes $90,000. What has Jeffereson done for black people that you need to defend him?

I'm done. I've made my position pretty clear but this "discussion" is two ships passing in the night.

No, West Coast, you are not getting me. I get you--and I don't want us to pass each other up.

I think this discussion is one at the core of the crises in the black community: The mythical negative stories we tell about ourselves and are willing to have told about us. (All other self respecting groups tell mythical stories of triumph and uplift but ours--often urban legends--are about supra-ghetto behavior and rank shadiness. No wonder our kids kill themselves. Who would value a person from such a maligned group.)

So, I am really asking you to explore for yourself and share if you are willing--why you apparently presume that Blacks are reacting to Obama out of a high school mentality--simply because he is of mixed race--and, too, why you believe if they are--that they are stupid for doing it?

I hear you. I know what you mean by high school. I've heard of blacks dismissing people because of their mixed race heritage. I even know that this reason has been offered as the reason for black resistance to Obama.

I am just asking you why do you believe this? Maybe, you have conducted surveys or have had a statistically meaningful group of black people tell you this.

Or, is it yet another urban myth that gets easily spread around by us that mocks our decision making and presents us as baffoons?

Moreover, you appear to presume that if Blacks considered Obama's racial background in deciding whether he is a good candidate, they're silly. You say this in your last post.

But it is not silly.

It makes sense that Blacks would espeically want a black candidate to offer sufficient indicia to of his/her investment in their uplift and familiarty with the long and short of the black experience.

Look at us here. Black people aren't alwasy easy people to defend--looking at us from the outside. Sometimes the thing that keeps us fighting for us is that we know that there is simply no escape for us from being black.

Also, blacks know that whites will look to the black candidate for cues on how to treat black people. Obama then is not just liek a white candidate to black people. Black people then are right to care much about how a black candidates fundamental identity is structured.

It seems to me then that black people can legitimately wonder whether Obama has an investment in and short and long knowledge of the African American experience given that he did not grow up in the black community---far from one---and that NEITHER of his parents grew up in an African American community. Given this, it seems to me that black folks have a right to stand back and ask for more with which to evaluate him.

An one term as a state rep and a half term as a U.S. Sentator can not be enough to extend Obama faith--especially because--as you know yourself--he has not said anything about that service to let black people know for what he stands.

About Jefferson, you again make my point. Should you ask me what Jefferson did for his people? If you're willing to condemn him as a bad black leader, shouldn't you bear the burden of proving the basis of your condemnation--evidence of how he failed his people--not a mere restatement of given knowledge. As said, I am not defding Jefferson--though i know that any hesitation to presume a black person's guilt is often perceived as such. I don't like Jefferson based on his stretched-eyed stepandfetchit looks alone almost regardless of his politics. I am not as deep as you.

@ West coast:BTW, all of the black Chicagoans I've talked to who don't know either Obama or his wife personally are hesitant about him--and are taking a wait and see approach.

You are obviously talking to Black Republicans. I live in Chicago, and you better believe, the entire state of Illinois is behind Obama. People here are not talking bad about Obama unless they are Black conservatives. Even the White conservatives know that if Obama win the Presidential election, it is a win-win situation for all. I think this concept is lost on Black conservatives.

As for his record, I don't like his U.S. Senate record. But, when he was in the Illinois Senate, Obama's record is beyond reproach. Many of us think that Obama has his reasons for playing this middle of the road game now, but in the end, Obama will be more than fair with everyone if he is elected. That is more than what we can say about any other candidate.

This is curious as Black Chicago hasn't given Obama a ringing endorsement in the past. He strugled to find a black constituency to even elect him. When he did, I think it also included others and under unique circumstances that favored him. the same thing is true about his senatorial run. The planents aligned. The first-term Republican incumbent made a pretty late announcement that he was not going to seek a second term. (This made for a shorter campaign season that favors someone with less money--and kept out those who might have run had they had the usual notice.) Then, Obama's Repubican opponent had to withdraw in the midst of controversy. So, Obama essentially had no opposition when he ran for U.S. Senator.

And about Illinois more generally, there is also Hillary Clinton--who is a Chicagoan. And although Mayor Daley supports Obama, you have many of the Clinton's buds very active in Chicago poltics, including that Congressman . . . Rahm?

Now, I'm not saying Black Chicagoans won't vote for Obama (he almost has to be Alan Keys to have Blacks not vote for a black favorite son) but I wonder how enthusiastic the vote will be--which will impact turnout. And as I said to the person (and I once lived in Chicago) of those people I know who don't know either Obama or his wife personally, they have hesitations. They say things like, "He hasn't been in office long enough." "I don't know what he has done."

Now, everyone I know who knows him has nothing but super things to say about him. Some folks eyes gloss over with glee about him. But I wonder some about these too. Is it that these super-educated folk who express such glee about Obama liking him because he looks like them--and presents oh so well--his articulate self and all?

This is curious as Black Chicago hasn't given Obama a ringing endorsement in the past.

The only reason why Black Chicago didn't give him an endorsement initially was that he was trying to replace another Black. What would we have gained? Once, he ran for the Senate, Black people were behind him 90%. The 10%, who were not, are republicans.

No body cares if Clinton was born in Illinois; she does not represent our State. You should listen to Black talk radio (WVON) and you will see that what you are saying is simply not true.

But see below for another Black Radio perspective. I think you are assuming too much. Moreover, I question whether black Republicans will shun Obama. I think they may like him. But see below. Also, Hillary is apparently around alot in Chicago. I am rarely in Chicago of late and ran into her, walking along Lake Michigan, secret service and all. But again see below for a different take of Black Radio from the one that has impressed you.BLACK AGENDA RADIOby Bruce Dixon

Black America's Real Issue With Barack Obama

The spurious claim that Black Americans oppose BarackObama because of his white mother, African father, andHarvard Law degrees is a racist slur against BlackAmericans by the mainstream news media, designed totrivialize and divert attention from real issuesAfrican Americans care about, but which are notaddressed by Obama supporters OR their Republicanopponents. Black America's Real Issue with Barack Obama

by Bruce Dixon

Both Barack Obama's Republican opponents and thecentrist Democrats who support his presidentialcandidacy agree on one thing. They all agree that blackopinion on the senator is both uninformed andirrelevant.

To hear the mainstream media, black dissatisfactionwith Senator Obama is all about his black Africanfather, his white American mother, his light complexionand his Columbia and Harvard Law degrees. The day afterRush Limbaugh called the senator a "half-frican" on theair, the term was in the mouths of ignorant black talkshow hosts in multiple cities. Black America was thenadmonished and chided by white Republicans andDemocrats of all colors for not embracing Senator Obamabased on some foolish standard of black authenticity.

This is a racist calumny and slur of the firstmagnitude against all of black America. Our people havenever rejected leading figures because of lightcomplexions, immigrant parents or advanced degrees.Black America emphatically did not reject ThurgoodMarshall or W.E.B. DuBois, or Julian Bond or AdamClayton Powell. Nor did the movement turn awayimmigrants like Stokley Carmichael or Roger Toussaint.Black opposition to Barack Obama on account of hisparentage and Harvard Law degree is every bit as much afabricated political issue as the wall to wall coverageof Anna Nicole Smith's death and family issues arefabricated news. Both are served up to us by the samemainstream media, and for similar reasons.

In many quarters of black America there are sane, solidand sensible reasons for black voters to questionwhether Barack Obama will represent them at all. Manyremember that his first act as a US Senator was torefuse to stand with California Senator Barbara Boxerin opposition to Ohio's nullification of hundreds ofthousands of black votes. Obama's second, third andfourth significant acts were when he declined to askany difficult, pointed or revealing questions ofCondoleezza Rice and two of the president's disastrousSupreme Court nominees, and he actually voted for twoout of three of these. Obama's sixth and seventhimportant acts as a senator were to vote for a billthat made it nearly impossible for ordinary people tosue giant corporations who rob, defraud, maim or kill,and another vote to renew the hated Patriot Act whichhe vigorously campaigned against. And though SenatorObama now claims to oppose the war in Iraq, he remainsadvocate of bombing Iran to start yet another.

This commentator was at Obama's 2004 Illinois primaryelection victory party. The white and black peoplethere that night imagined that they had elected anotherPaul Wellstone or a Harold Washington, a senator whowould bring their concerns to the halls of power,whether the powerful were ready to hear them or not.One wonders what they think today.

Black America is rightly worried. We are an eighth thenation's population and half its prisons, but we cannotget a memmic01ber of the black caucus, Senator Obamaincluded, to question the nation's policy of raciallyselective mass incarceration in public. We do haveissues that matter to us, and if Barack Obama does notaddress them, he is truly somebody else's candidate,not ours.

What about the many white politicians as well who could possibly be the majority of white collar crimes. Black leaders will always be a burden, but in any position of leadership in this country they are not going to be taken serious. So why do they mislead or let many black African American citizens down? It is because some of us wait on them to fail and we have no trust in our own people. We have to understand the dynamics and realize the small number that represent what would be the civilized negro in this country, it is not that they are field negros but have not let the white man down but the negros in the field who this system is not intended to represent. So I think the question is to ask why arent there enough black representation in this country? Could it be that they are not representing African American community, but the position they uphold which is generally the all american white community.

Follow the The Field Negro via e-mail.

TWEET ME

DISCLAIMER

***The views expressed on this site are the field's and the field's alone. They do not reflect the views of his employer, or any professional or legal organization with which he is affiliated.***

This is a commercial free blog.

Money is nice, but being able to speak my mind is better.

"Real talk: Daniel Rubin has a great little piece up wherein he chats with The Field Negro, the Philly-based blogger who sharply ponders all things black on a daily basis. (Seriously, if you’ve never checked in with TFN, you should: Its author, Wayne Bennett, is a fantastic read who can cut through bullshit like a hot knife through butter, which is a far grosser analogy than I wanted to make, but there you have it.)" ~Philebrity~

"..While most of what he writes is tongue-in-cheek, his space is a safe house for candid discussions about race, especially in the comments section, where people of all colors meet."~~Daniel Rubin, "The Philadelphia Inquirer"~~

"To white people, Bennett's musings are like kitchen-table talk from a kitchen they may otherwise never set foot in. To African Americans, he is part of a growing army of black Internet amateurs who have taken up the work once reserved for ministers and professional activists: the work of setting a black agenda, shaping black opinion and calling attention to the state of the nation's racial affairs."

~~Richard Fausset, "L.A. Times"~~~

"That's why I love the blog "Field Negro" so much. Field, as he's known to his fans, has the sense of reality that it takes to call out the (CowPuckey) of blame beating by those who are in positions of power and their lackeys. Because of his handle and his unabashed way of writing about racial issues, Field is often cited as a "Black blogger." What he is, however, is a first-class detector of blame deflection and an excellent student of history. If you want to write about the past and future of repression there's really no other perspective to take - which is why everyone should read Field."

"Half a century after Little Rock, the Montgomery bus boycott and the tumultuous dawn of the modern civil rights era, the new face of the movement is Facebook, MySpace and some 150 black blogs united in an Internet alliance they call theAfroSpear.

Older, familiar leaders such as Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton and NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, are under challenge by a younger generation of bloggers known by such provocative screen names as Field Negro, thefreeslaveand African American Political Pundit. And many of the newest struggles are being waged online."~Howard Witt-The Chicago Tribune~

"I had no idea, for example, of the extent of the African-American blogging world out there and its collective powers of dissemination.But now, after reading thousands of anguished, thoughtful comments posted on these blogs reflecting on issues of persistent racial discrimination in the nation's schools and courtrooms, what's clear to me is that there's a new, "virtual" civil rights movement out there on the Internet that can reach more people in a few hours than all the protest marches, sit-ins and boycotts of the 1950s and 60s put together." ~Chicago Tribune Reporter, Howard Witt~